Pitch changing mechanism for stringed musical instruments



W. N. GAUT Nov. 6, 1951 PITCH CHANGING MECHANISM FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 7, 1949 INVENTOR. /a/77 640% /7//0 xwz y Nov. 6, 1951 W. N. GAUT 2,573,963

- PITCH CHANGING MECHANISM FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 7, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 LIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

wmm 40w Nov. 6, 1951 W. N. GAUT 2,573,963

PITCH CHANGING MECHANISM FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed July 7, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

W. N. GAUT Nov. 6, 1951 PITCH CHANGING MECHANISM FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July '7, 1949 o e a a a a o e) Q Hal 7/ Patented Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PITCH CHANGING MECHANISM FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS 'William N. Gaut, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Gibson, Inc Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application July 7,1949, Serial No. 103,368

13 Claims. 7 1

This invention relates to improvements in pitch changing mechanism for a stringed musical instrument.

The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide novel mechanism by means of which the musical pitch of the strings of a musical instrument may be selectively varied upward- 1y or downwardly from a normal pitch while the instrument is being played.

Second, to provide pitch changing mechanism by means of which various combinations of the strings of a stringed. instrument may be varied in pitch, part of the strings being raised in pitch while others are lowered or remain unchanged.

Third, to provide a novel means for tensioning the strings of a musical stringed instrument in which the tension of the string is balanced against a spring in a neutral position permitting variation in the tension of the string to either side of its neutral balanced position.

Fourth, to provide a novel means for locking the pitch determining screws of a pitch changing mechanism to efiectively hold the screws in adjusted position.

Fifth, to provide a stringed musical instrument with a normal tuning bar and screws for determining the normal or primary pitch of the strings and a plurality of movable secondary tuning bars and screws for selectively varying the pitch of various combinations of the strings both above and below the normal tuning pitch.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims.

The drawings, of which there are four sheets, illustrate a preferred form of my instrument.

Fig. l is a plan view of my instrument in erected position on its supporting legs.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged plan view of the body oi the instrument with the covers for the ends of the strings removed.

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the body of the instrument with portions of the leg mounting structure broken away to better illustrate the string mounting and tuning mechanism.

Fig. l is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross sectional view through the pitch changing mech anism and taken along the plane of the line 4-4 in Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 9.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary transverse vertical cross sectional view through the pitch changing mechanism and taken along the plane of the line 5-5 in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an end elevational view of the instrument in erected position.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational 2 view partially broken away in cross section along the line 1-1 in Fig. 5 and illustrating in detail the connections between the pedals and the pitch changing mechanism.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view illustrating the details of the mounting of the pitch.

adjusting screws as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Fig.9 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view illustrating the mounting of the normal or primary tuning bar and screws and taken along the plane of the line 9-9 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view illustrating the bridge and magnetic pickup mechanism located near the fixed ends of the strings of the instrument and taken along the plane of the line lfl-lii in Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through an intermediate portion of the body of the instrument illustrating the mounting of the finger board and the adjustable mounting of the u and arrangements of the parts of that type of a musical stringed instrument in which a plurality of strings are mounted in a horizontal position along a body and finger board and played by a musician seated before the instrument, the instrument being supported on suitable legs. Preferably the vibrations of the strings serve to actuate a magnetic pickup mechanism so that the vibrations are picked up, amplified and reproduced through an electronic amplifying system. It has previously been proposed to provide instruments of this general character with a series of pedals selectively operated by the foot of the musician to vary the normal pitch or tuning of the strings while the instrument is being played and, as indicated in the objects, my invention provides a particularly novel and simple structure for making a Wide variety of pitch changes in the strings of the instrument.

In the drawings I have illustrated a stringed instrument having a decorative body or case 4 supported upon two pairs of legs 2-2 at the ends oi-the body. As is more clearly illustrated in Figs. 5 and 11 the legs 2-2 are removably secured to cross members 3-3 fastened to cleats on the inside of the body. The cleats also serve to support cross bars 4-4 on which is supported the rigid metal frame 5. The frame 5 includes the outwardly flanged side rails 6 and suitable cross members I and forms a support for the several strings S and the pitch changing mechanism as will be described in detail. v

The strings S are arranged over bridge elements 8 formed on the cross members I toward each end of the rails 6. Desirably the bridge structures take the form of a plurality of circumferentially grooved rollers 9 mounted on shafts I so that there is no resistance to the elongation. of thestrings as their. tension is varied. At the right end of the frame and side rails 6, as faced by the musician and illustrated in Fig. 2, the side rails 6 support a peg head frame,

I I having the gear adjusted shafts or pegs IZ-IZ mounted thereon. It will be noted that the pegs I2 are widely spaced for easy connection of. the ends of the strings S, one to each of the pegs.

Just to the left of the right bridge structure 8 the side rails 6 adjustably support a magnetic pickup I3 having a series of pole pieces 'I4,'..orie for each of the strings S. As is most clearly illustrated in Fig. the pickup I3 is mounted on the side rails by means of the yoke l5 bolted to theside :rails. The arms of the yoke are provided with slots (not shown) whichpass the bolts so that the pickupmay be adjusted vertically with respect to the strings in order to vary the effect of the strings on the pole pieces. The magnetic pickup is connected in a well known manner by the conductors I6 through tone and volumecontrols I1 to a jack I8 for attachment to the amplifying mechanism.

The pitch changing mechanism is attached to theleftend of the strings S and comprises a series of. tensioning bars I9-I9 which extend longitudinally of the instrument. The tensioning bars are provided with pegs20 to which the left ends of the strings S are attached there being one bar I9 for each string. The bars I9 have a notched pivotal engagement with a bearing plate 2| secured to the under side of the left bridge structure 8 as is mostclearly illustrated in Fig. 4. The plate is adjusted perpendicular to the bars by the screws 2| I. The tension of the string S tending to rotate the bar I9 in a clockwise direction is opposed and substantially balanced by the tension in a coil spring 22 mounted between the side rails 6 and connected to a screw 23 on the bottom of the tensioning bar. The right end of the spring 22 is connected to a screw anchor 24 adjustably mounted on the right cross piece I as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 10. The spring balancing structure is duplicated for each of the tensioning bars as illustrated.

At the extreme left end of the side rails 6 there is provided a normal or primary tuning rod 25 which extends transversely over the ends of the tensioning bars I9 and which is adjustably drawn down against the tops of the side rails by means of the springs 26 compressed between the under sides of the flanges 21 and the sleeves 29 threaded on the lower ends of screws 29. Desirably, fiber or other sound deadening washers 30 are positioned between the ends of the rod 25 and the side rail as illustrated in Fig. 9. The primary tuning rod 25 carries a series of primary tuning screws 3I-3I which extend vertically downwardly into engagement with the tension bars I9 there being one screw for each tensioning bar. Preferably the top surface of the tensioning bars are covered with a fiber pad 32 and a layer of rubber 33 to deaden any noise resulting from engagement between the screws and the tensioning bars.

In setting up and tuning the instrument the several strings are connected between their proper peg I2 and tensioning ban! and. the strings are brought to approximately thecorrect tension by adjustment of the pegs l2. Further primary adjustments to compensate for variation in length of the strings may be effected by adjusting the screw anchors 24 in opposition to the action of the pegs I2. This preliminary adjustment is considered to be a permanent adjustmenton each instrumentandis normally changed only when a new string is installed as during assembly of the instrument at a factory. The

preliminary tensioning of the strings is adjusted tobring the several tensioning bars I9 into the generally horizontal position illustrated in Fig. i with the bars slightly overbalanced so that they exert a small force against the primary tuning screws 31.

The primary musical tuning of the strings to the desired pitch is accomplished by adjusting the primary tuning screws 3| on the primary tuning rod 25. Obviously depressing the screws 3| will increase the tension of the strings and raise their pitch. Raising the screws will relieve th tension and lower the pitch: The screws 3| are adjusted to provide a desired basic chord or tuning of the several strings S.

The tuning of the several strings S is varied from the basic chord or primary tuning by means of any one of the four sets of secondary tuning screws 34 carried by the four secondary tuning rods 35. The action ofeach of the rods 35 is the same so only one will be'described. The secondary rod 35 is carried transversely of the side rails 6 by means of elongatedscrews 39 extending downwardly through the flanges of the side rails to a lower pull bar 31 as is most clearly illustrated in Fig. 5. The rod 35 is urged upwardly by means of springs 38 bearing against the nuts 39 adjustably secured to the screws. Cushioning grommets 40 are positioned'between the bottoms of the side rails 6 and the ends of the pull bar 31. The pull bar is providedwith a dependingthreadedstud 4| to which thecoupling 42 is removably attached. The coupling 42 is hollow and receives the locking plug 43 around which the end of the pedal wire 44 is wound. For convenience a rubber plug 45 retains the locking plug 43 in place. The pedal wire 44 extends through a fiber guide plate 46 on the side of one of the legs 2 and downwardly within the le to one of the pedals 4! pivotally mounted on a bracket 48 at the bottom'of the leg. It will be understood that one pedal 41 and pedal wire 44 is provided for .each of the secondary tuning rods 35. a

The secondary tuning rod 35 carries a series of secondarytuning'screws 49 one for each of the tensioning bars I9. The secondary tuning rod also carries-a pair of neutralizing screws 59 mounted one at each end of the rod. The neutralizing screws 50 are adapted to engage the ends of neutralizing levers 5| pivotally mounted on the insides-of the side r il 6 a t 5 Fig. 4). The outer ends of. the neutralizin levers 51 extend beneath the primary tuning od 25 and when the right ends of the levers are depressed by the neutralizing screws 50, the levers are eifective to lift the primary tuning rod and. primary tuning screws 9| out of engagement with the tensioning bars I9 thus neutralizing the prlmary tuning structure. r I I The secondary tuning screws 49 can be adjust= ed to move the tensioning bars to any desired secondary chord or tuning of the strings S. It should be noted'that the secondary tuning screws can be depressed far enough so that all screws of anyone of thesecondary tuning rods increases the tension of all of the strings S. If this tuning is desired the neutralizing screws 50 on that particular secondary tuning rod may be left raised and inoperative as it is unnecessary to disengage the primary tuning screws from the tensioning bars. However, when it is desired to decrease the tension of any of the strings below the tension of the primary tuning it is necessary that the neutralizing screws i) shall render the primary tuning screws inefiective after which the secondary tuning screws 49 en-- gage the tensioning bars to determine the lowered pitch of the string or strings.

A wide variety of tuning arrangements can be obtained with my pitch changing mechanism. Obviously the one primary tuning rod and four secondary tuning rods will provide five different chords or tuning arrangements of the several strings. Further, by depressing various combinations of the pedals 3'! still other chords or tunings may be obtained. It should be noted that one tuning rod 35 can be eiiective to raise the pitch of part of the strings while lowering the pitch of others of the strings. This is accomplished by simply depressing the secondary screws :9 associated with the strings which are to be raised in pitch and retracting those screws 4% associated with the strings which are to be lowered in pitch. The neutralizing screws 56 are depressed to actuate the neutralizing levers so that the tuning bars IQ of some of the strings may rise into engagement with the secondary tuning screws 49 or to the raised neutralized position of the primary tuning screw 3|.

Within any of the tuning arrangements possible with my mechanism the instrument is played in the normal fashion against a finger board 53 removably secured beneath the strings S and over a slot in the case i. The finger board is easily installed on the case and held in place by the block and pivoted cleats 54. When in use the peg head and tuning bars of the instrument are enclosed by the covers 55 held in place by engagement of the cross rods 56 with spring clips 53 secured to the body. Desirably one of the pair of legs 2 is adjustably secured to its cross member 3 so that the instrument can be leveled or made to rest firmly on uneven floors. The instrument is easily and quickly dismantled for carrying simply by disconnecting the couplings 42 from the pull-down cross bars 3? and removing the legs from the body of the instrument.

An important detail of my instrument is the manner in which the primary and secondary tuning screws are held in adjusted position. Fig. 8 shows one of the secondary tuning rods 35 and tuning screws 39 in detail. A strip of leather 58 or similar pliable material is threaded through the rod and the screw is driven through the strip so that the leather is expanded and acts as a locking washer to hold the screw. The primary screws are held in the same manner and the instrument will hold its tuning adjustments indefinitely. Another important detail of the instrument is the safety bar 58 positioned under the tuning bars I!) and shown in Figs. 4 and 5. The safety bar 58 is positioned just slightly below the ends of the springs 22 in the tensioned position of the springs so that in the event one of the strings S- breaks, the spring 22 and tuning bar l9 associated with that string will not fly downwardly under the tension of the spring. The safety bar is also useful in supporting the tuning bars during assembly and initial tensioning of the strings.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a musical string instrument having an elongated frame with a plurality of strings stretched along said frame, means at one end of said frame for anchoring one end of said strings, an abutment extending transversely of said frame at the opposite end thereof from said means, a plurality of tensioning bars swingably abutted against said abutment, said strings being connected one to each of said bars, balancing means including springs stretched between said tensioning bars and adjustably fixed abutments adjacent to said means for anchoring said strings and'extencling on the opposite side of said abutment from said strings for counterbalancing the pull of said strings, a hollow primary tuning rod extending across said tensioning bars and having screws adjustably engageable with said tensioning bars, mounting screws on said primary rod extending through the sides of said frame and having springs mounted around said mounting screws for urging said primary rod downwardly, a plurality of hollow secondary tuning rods extending across said tensioning bars and each provided with a series of secondary tuning screws selectively adjustable with respect to said tensioning bars, screws depending from said secondary rods through said frame, spring means positioned around said depending screws biasing said secondary tuning rods away from said tensioning means, pull bars connected to the depending screws on said secondary rods below said frame, pull wires removably connected to said pull bars, pedal means for depressing said pull wires and pull bars and secondary rods and secondary tuning screws into engagement with said tensioning bars, neutralizing screws on said secondary rods, and neutralizing levers on said frame adapted to be engaged by said neutralizing screws and swingable into engagement with said primary rod for disengaging said primary rod and primary screws from said tensioning bars, said tuning rods having strips of leather threaded therethrough and pierced by said tuning screws to hold said tuning screws in adjusted position.

2. In a musical string instrument having an elongated frame with a plurality of strings stretched along said frame, means at one end of said frame for anchoring one end of said strings, an abutment extending transversely of said frame at the opposite end thereof from said means, a plurality of tensioning bars swingably abutted against said abutment, said strings being connected one to each of said bars, balancing means including springs stretched between said tensioning bars and adjustably fixed abutments adjacent to said means for anchoring said strings and extending on the opposite side of said abutment from said strings for counterbalancing the pull of said strings, a hollow primary tuning rod extending across said tensioning bars and having screws adjustably engageable with said tensioning bars, a plurality of hollow secondary tuning rods extending across said tensioning bars and each provided with a series of secondary tuning screws selectively adjustable with respect to said tensioning bars, screws depending from said secondary rods through said frame, spring means biasing said secondary tuning rods away from said tensioning bars, pedal means for depressing said secondary rods and secondary tuning screws awe-pea into engagement withsaid tensioning bars, neutralizing screws on said secondary rods, neutrale izing'levers Ionrsaid frame adapted,tojbefengaged byesa'id neutralizing screws andswingable into engagement with said primary rod for disengaging said primary rod and primary: screws.w from said tensioning bars, said tuning rods jhaving strips of pliable material threaded therethrough and engaged by said tuning screws to hold said tuning screws in adjusted position, and a safety bar supportedby said frameunder the swinging ends of said tuning bars to limit the downward movement thereof. r

3. In a musical string instrument having an elongated frame with a plurality of strings stretched along said frame, means at one end of .said frame for anchoring one end of said strings, an abutment extending transversely of said frame at the opposite end thereof from'said means, a plurality of tensioning bars swingably abutted against said abutment, said strings being, connected one to each of said bars, balancing means including springs stretched between said tensioning bars and adjustably fixed abutments adjacent to said means for anchoring said strings and extending on the opposite side of said abutment from said strings for counterbalancing the pull of said strings, a primary timing rod extending across said tensioning bars and having screws adjustably engageable with said tensioningbars, a plurality of secondary tuning rods extending across said tensioning bars and each provided with a series of secondary tuning screws selectively adjustable with respect to said tensioning bars, spring means biasing said secondary tuning rods away from said tensioning means, pedal means for depressing said secondary rods and said secondary screws selectively into engagement with said tensioning bars, neutralizing screws adjustable on said secondary rods, and neutralizing levers on said frame-adapted to be engaged by said neutralizing screws and engageable with said primary rod for moving said primary rod and primary screws from said tensioning bars.

" 4. In a musical string instrument having an elongated frame with a plurality of strings stretched along said frame, means at one end of said frame for anchoring one end of said strings, an abutment extending transversely of said frame at the opposite end thereof from said means: a plurality of tensioning bars swingably abutted against said abutment, said strings being cona' nected one to each of said bars, balancing means including springs stretched between saidtensioning bars and adjustably fixed abutments and extending on the opposite side of, said abutment from said strings for counterbalancingthe un o'fsaid strings, a primary tuning rod extending across said tensioning bars and having. screws adjustably engageable with said tensioningjb'ars, a plurality of secondary tuning rods extending across said tensioning bars and each provided with a seriesof secondary tuning screws selec'jtively adjustable'with respeotto said tensioning bars, spring means biasing said secondary tuning rods away from said tensioning lme'ans," T'pedal means for depressingsaid secondary rods and selectively adjusted. secondary screwsflinto .engagement with said tensioning bars, neutralizing screws adjustable on said secondary rods, and neutralizing levers on said frame adapted to be engaged by said neutralizing's'crews and engag able with said primaryrod for moving said ;primaryrod and primary screws from saidtensionin'g bars. I

-i5 .-iIn -a musical string instrument having anan abutment extending transversely of said frame at the oppositeend thereof from said anchoring means, a plurality of tensioning bars swingably abutted against said abutment, each of said strings being connected to a different one of said bars, balancing, means including springs stretched between said tensioning bars and fixed abutments for counterbalancing the pull of said strings, a primary tuning rod extending across said tensioning bars and having screws adjustably engageable with said tensioning bars; a

secondary tuning rod extending across said ten-- sioning bars and provided with a series of secondary tuning screws selectively adjustable with respect to said tensioning bars, pedal means for depressing said secondary rod and selectively adjusted secondary screws into engagement with said tensioning bars, a neutralizing screw on said secondary rod, and a neutralizing lever on said frame adapted to be selectively engaged by said neutralizing screw and engageable with said primary rod for moving said primary rod and primary screws from said tensioning bars.

6. A stringed musical instrument comprising, an elongated frame, a peg head at one end of said frame, a bridge positioned adjacent to said peg head, an abutment extending transversely of said frame near the opposite endthereof from said bridge, a second bridge positioned over said abutment, a plurality of tensioning bars v, pivoted against said abutment and extending longitudinally of said frame away from said bridges, a pluralit of strings extending from said peg head over said bridges and being con-' nected one to each of said tensioning bars, a plurality of counterbalancing springs adjustably connected between the under side of said first bridge and the under sides of said tensioning bars, a primary tuning rod yieldably mounted on said frame and extending across said tensioning bars, primary tuning screws adjustably mounted on said primary rod and engageable with said tensioning bars,- a secondary tuning rod yieldably mounted on said frame and extending across said tensioning bars, selectively adjustable secondary tuning screws on said secondary tuning rod engageable with said tensioning bars, neutralizing screws adjustably mounted on said secondary rod, neutralizing levers pivotally mounted on said frame and actuatable by said neutralizing screws to move said primary tuning rod and primary tuning screws in a direction away from said tensioning bars, and pedal means for pulling said secondary tuning rod and sec ondary tuning screws into engagement with said tensioning bars and for pulling said neutralizing screws into engagement with said neutralizing levers.

7. A stringed musical instrument comprising, an elongated frame, a peg head at one end of said frame, a bridge positioned adjacent to said peg head, an abutment extending transversely of said frame near the opposite end thereof from said first bridge, a second bridge positioned adjacent to said abutment, a plurality of tensioning bars pivoted about said abutment and extending longitudinally of said frame, a plurality of strings extendin from said peg head over said bridges and being connected to said tensioning bars, a plurality of counterbalancing springs adjustably connected between the under side of said first bridge and the under sides of said tensioning bars, a primary tuning rod yieldably mounted on said frame and extending across said tensioning bars, primary tuning projections mounted on said primary rod and engageable with said tensioning, bars, a secondary tuning rod mounted on said frame and extending across said tensioning bars, selectively adjustable secondary tuning screws on said secondary tuning rod engageable with said tensioning bars, a neutralizing screw adjustably mounted on said secondary rod, a neutralizing lever pivotally mounted on said frame and actuatable by said neutralizing screw to move said primary tunin rod and primary tuning projections in a direction away from said tensioning bars, and pedal means for pulling said secondary tuning rod and secondary tuning screws into engagement with said tensioning bars and for pulling said neutralizing screw into engagement with said neutralizing lever.

8, A stringed musical instrument comprising, an elongated frame, a head at one end of said frame, a bridge adjacent to said head, an abutment extending transversely of said frame near the opposite end thereof from said first bridge, a second bridge positioned adjacent to said abutment, a plurality of tensioning bars pivoted about said abutment, a plurality of strings extending from said head over said bridges and bein connected to said tensioning bars, a plurality of counterbalancing springs adjustably connected between fixed points on said frame and said tensioning bars and opposing the action of said strings to rotate said bars, a primary tuning rod yieldably mounted on said frame and extending across said tensionin bars, primary tuning projections mounted on said primary rod and engageable with said tensionin bars, a secondary tuning rod yieldably mounted on said frame and extending across said tensioning bars, selectively adjustable secondary tuning screws on said secondary tuning rod engageable with said tensioning bars, neutralizing screws adjustably mounted on said secondary rod, a neutralizing lever pivotally mounted on said frame and actuatable by said neutralizing screw to move said primary tunin rod and primary tuning projections in a direction away from said tensioning bars, and pedal means for pulling said secondary tuning rod and secondary tuning screws into engagement with said tensioning bars and for pulling said neutralizing screw into engagement with said neutralizing lever.

9. Pitch adjusting mechanism for the string of a stringed musical instrument comprising, a pivotally mounted bar to which one end of said string is attached at a point spaced from the pivot of the bar and out of line with the vibrating portion of said string, spring means connected to said bar and acting thereon in opposition to the tension of said string, a first movable element yieldably mounted on said instrument and having a primary tuning pin engageable with said bar in opposition to the tension of said string, an abutment on said instrument against which said element is yieldingly held in the operative position of said element and said pin, a second movable element mounted on said instrument and yieldably biased away from said bar, a secondary tuning screw adjustably mounted on said second element, means for selectively moving said second element toward said bar to engage said secondary tuning screw with said bar in opposition to the tension of said string to a predetermined degree, a neutralizing lever mounted on said instrument and engageable with said first element to move said first element away from said abutment, and a neutralizing stop adjustably mounted on said second element and movable therewith selectively into engagement with said neutralizing lever to move said primary pin away from said bar.

10. Pitch adjusting mechanism for the string of a stringed musical instrument comprising, a pivotally mounted bar to which one end of said string is attached at a point spaced from the pivot of the bar, spring means connected to said bar and acting thereon in opposition to the tension of said string, a first movable element yieldably mounted on said instrument and having a primary tuning pin engageable with said bar in opposition to the tension of said string, an abutment on said instrument against which said element is yieldingly held in the operative position of said element and said pin, a second movable element mounted on said instrument and yieldably biased away from said bar, a secondary tuning screw adjustably mounted on said second element, means for selectively moving said second element toward said bar to engage said secondary tuning screw with said bar in opposition to the tension of said string to a predetermined degree, a neutralizing lever mounted on said instrument and engageable with said first element to move said first element away from said abutment, and a neutralizing stop adjustably mounted on said second element and movable therewith selectively into engagement with said neutralizing lever to move said primary pin away from said bar.

11. Pitch adjusting mechanism for the string of a stringed musical instrument comprising, a pivotally mounted bar to which one end of said string is attached at an angle with respect to the pivot, spring means connected to said pivotally mounted bar and acting thereon in opposition to the tension of said string, a primary tuning stop yieldably biased into a fixed position and against said bar at a point spaced from its pivot in opposition to the tension of said string, a secondary tuning screw movable independently of said projection into engagement with said bar at a point spaced from its pivot in opposition to the tension of said string to a different degree than said primary tuning projection, means for actuating said secondary tuning screw, and neutralizing means carried by said last mentioned means and selectively adjustable to move said primary tuning projection in a direction away from said bar upon actuation of said secondary tuning screw.

12. Pitch adjusting mechanism for the string of a stringed musical instrumentcomprising, a pivotally mounted bar to which one end of said string is attached at an angle with respect to the pivot, spring means connected to said pivotally mounted bar and acting thereon in opposition to the tension of said string, a primary adjustable tuning abutment yieldably biased into a fixed position and against said bar at a point spaced from its pivot, a secondary tuning abutment movable independently of said primary abutment into engagement with said bar at a point spaced from its pivot and to a different degree than said primary tuning abutment, means for actuating said secondary tuning abutment, and neutralizing means carried by said last mentioned means and selectively adjustable to move said primary tuning abutment in a direction away i from said bar upon actuation of 'saidsecondary 'timing abutment; V a Y a 13.- Pitch adjusting mechanism for 5 the string of a stringed musical instrument comprising; a

V pivotally mounted bar to which one end of said J string is attached at 'a point spaced from the pivot' to apply a turning'force to said bar, spring means acting on' said bar: in opposition to the 'itension of said string, a primary tuning abut- :ment adjustably engageable with said bar to fix j the primary position of said bar under the acxtionlof said spring and said string, a secondary r tuning abutment movable independently of said primary? abutment into engagement with said bar? and to a different degree than said primary tuning'abutment, means for actuating said secondary tuning abutment, and neutralizing means 'i carried'by said'last mentioned'means 'andselectively adjustable to move saidf'primary tuning abutment in a direction away from said bar upon actuation of said secondary tuning abutment. WILLIAM N. GAUT.

I REFERENCES CITED The following references are of recordin the file of this patent: 1 4 r I UNITED STATE SjAPATENTS 2 Number Name Date 2,257,995 Abrams et a1. Oct: 7, 1941 2,453,572 Ferrier Nov. 9, 1948 2,458,263 

